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Ahhhh, yes…springtime is in the air. I can always tell because the birds are back, flowers are blossoming, the NBA Finals are drawing to a close, and the typical disgruntled NFL player is airing his dirty laundry.
This one snuck up on me a little, I will freely admit. Knowing that the Patriots offered nearly double what they had to in order to secure exclusive rights, I took it for granted that he would sign and play while both sides hammered out a long-term deal.
I actually have a draft guide from the year Logan Mankins was drafted; and while “mock” drafts show exactly how subjective the draft process is, there’s usually a degree of accuracy involved. He was the eighth-rated tackle prospect that year (in my guide); with the caveat that, were he to be turned into a guard, he would be the top-rated prospect at that position.
The Patriots snatched him up at pick No. 32 in 2005, causing a bit of a stir. It turned out they knew what they were doing, although that move in and of itself made Mr. Mankins a lot of money.
Other than David Baas, the following pick, the next interior offensive lineman didn’t come off the board until pick No. 79 (Evan Mathis).
While it’s not necessarily proof that he would have lasted that long, I would say given that pick No. 79 is mid-third round territory, it’s a safe assumption he would have lasted 10 to 15 spots longer, at least looking at who went in those slots.
He’s been a great player for the Pats, athletic and strong with a demeanor well-suited to trench warfare in the NFL. Until last year, he was a standout on a solid and cohesive offensive line.
However, last year, I thought his play slipped quite severely if you contrast it with his play up until that point, although still better than many of his counterparts throughout the league. I don’t have stats to back it up, but thanks to having NFL Sunday Ticket, I watched him blow assignments and get whistled for penalties far more than in years past.
Not only that, but his unit in particular had been to blame in the two most painful Patriots losses over the last several years.
I’ll never forget watching the Giants toy with the Patriots offensive line in Super Bowl 42; that’s the kind of thing that sticks with a guy.
While play-calling played a part in the debacle in the playoffs last year vs. the Ravens, Ray Lewis and Co. were consistently getting pressure up the gut. Right at Mankins and his fellow interior lineman, for anyone who missed that absolute destruction of the Pats on their homefield.
I’d go so far as to say he wasn’t even the best offensive lineman on the Patriots last year, although some of that could have been the “new guy” bromance I was feeling for Sebastian Vollmer.
If Kaczur is a serviceable fit at LG, then Mankins can curse “Seabass” for his lack of leverage with the team as starting Vollmer at either tackle would be an upgrade. But I digress…
“I was asked to play ’09 out, and that they would address the contract during the uncapped year.” That’s the quote that really caught my eye. I’m no Mensa member, but it would appear to me that the uncapped year in question has yet to begin. So basically, he hasn’t given the Patriots a chance to go back on their word, as he claims they’ve done.
In addition, they’ve got Tom Brady in the final year of his contract. Do you really think you’re going to win that particular pissing contest, Logan?
He could have been patient and gone the Vince Wilfork route, expressing displeasure while not burning bridges. Instead, he gives an ultimatum which will get him shipped out of town—hopefully to whatever team is bound for the worst record this year; hard to say where, as Oakland and Detroit actually appear to have a little bit of hope.
From the team perspective, it sucks that he had to air this all with the media, as it damages their leverage in trades with prospective partners. However, given that Belichick got Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick and a pack of skittles, along with securing a first-rounder for Richard Seymour, it is enough to give Pats fans some hope.
Now, if we can just find Al Davis’s number…
P.S. Don’t let the door hit you, Logan; you WON’T be missed!
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Since Tom Cable has been named interim head coach he’s been preaching the need for upgrading the trenches. Prior to the 2009 NFL Draft he was talking about wanting a Cadillac left tackle and that there were a few in the draft he had his eyes on. Prior to the 2010 Draft he stated there are really only 10 or so really good tackles in the NFL right now, and the position needed to be upgraded along Oakland’s offensive line.
Other times he’s discussed the need to upgrade the defensive line as well. Time and again he states the play in the trenches needs to be improved. Finally, during this offseason the Raiders have made enough moves to finally have added some depth, starting ability, and future in the trenches.
Finally after a couple years of frustration, it appears Cable is finally getting at least some wishes met with some upgrades along the offensive and defensive lines this past offseason through the draft and free agency.
The Raiders finally replaced Cornell Green with Langston Walker and/or possibly Edwin “Jared” Veldheer, who has the capability of at least being a good starting RT in the league. He’s going to have to try to unseat left tackle Mario Henderson before the Raiders will attempt to see him at right tackle unless he’s close to beating him out, and the Raiders want him to grow a little and make him sit and learn.
If by the end of training camp or preseason Oakland believes Veldheer is the better left tackle prospect then obviously he should start, but I believe he’s going to have a difficult time unseating Sometime Super Mario. If this is the case, Oakland will have to move him to right tackle creating a great group of bookend tackles for the next 10 years provided some time Mario decides to be every time Super Mario, which he’s totally capable of after showing everyone he can dominate against the NFL’s best defensive ends.
I’m not sure about Veldheer on the left side, but I believe he has the build, strength, intelligence (he entered tiny Hillsdale College to be a med student, not have NFL aspirations), and upside (considering how he played at the Senior Bowl as the week wore on) to become something special. In my mind, I see Sebastian Vollmer who surprised everyone last year in NE’s system. He was a great fit and Veldheer could be a great fit in Oakland.
Bruce Campbell has the athletic skills, intelligence, and agility to be a rock solid right guard in the NFL and really help the Oakland offense pound the ball. With Bruce Campbell and current right tackle Langston Walker, Oakland will have 655 lbs on the right side of the line behind Hue Jackson’s preferred power sets. If he can stay healthy and learn the system, he’ll become a huge upgrade over Cooper Carlisle, a trooper who is on the outs because his position needs to be upgraded.
Finally, releasing Gerrard Warren and his lack of work ethic finally rid the Raiders of players who weren’t giving it there all. Replacing Warren with defensive tackle John Henderson is an immediate upgrade on the run defense. On obvious rushing downs Tommy Kelly is finally going to wreak havoc in the backfield because he’ll have someone taking on the double team. If Henderson and Heard can rotate, stay fresh, and take on the double team; the defensive ends are going to make a lot of noise in the backfield.
With the addition of defensive end/tackle Lamaar Houston, Oakland has added a freak of nature who has the possibility of being both a Pro Bowl and Defensive Rookie of the Year-type player with his size and speed. Having both Richard Seymour and Houston on the ends will make it impossible for teams to run on the outside.
With the addition of Mike Wauffle as the defensive line coach, it makes sense that the team is going to be loaded at defensive end. Seymour, Houston, Matt Shaughnessey, Trevor Scott, and Quintin Groves make up a rock solid group of defensive ends. However, Scott and Groves are only going to be used on obvious passing downs because their speed will be mismatches and the other three are stud run-stuffing defensive ends.
For those of you who like myself who have been complaining about the trenches since 2006 when in the opening game against San Diego they looked like the worse offensive line I’d ever seen in my live, and obviously end up as one of the worst if not the worst offensive line ever.
Finally it’s happening on both sides. With the additions of John Henderson, Kellen Heard, Edwin “Jared” Veldheer, and Bruce Campbell, and the removal of Cornell Green with the addition of Langston Walker at right tackle, it’s possible Oakland finally has made some significant upgrades in the trenches.
The trenches win the battle. If you lose in the trenches you lose the battle. If you beat the hell out of them, then you excel in this league. Oakland finally has the ability to finally make a fight in the trenches with having a legitimate chance at winning because of the trenches.
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Thus far, we have ranked the league’s top quarterbacks , running backs , wide receivers , and QB/WR tandems . Today comes the men who make all of the guys look good—the offensive linemen.
Grading offensive linemen is obviously a difficult task, as there are no truly objective statistics by which they can be compared.
Instead, linemen are judged by the “eye test” more so than at any other position.
You will notice that we do not downgrade right tackles simply for playing the “easier” position. Left tackle is of course a crucial position for any offense, but we do not agree with the long-held belief that it is much more important than the other positions on the line.
Thus, over half of our top 15 offensive tackles do not regularly play on the blind side.
1. Joe Thomas, LT, Cleveland Browns
In our opinion, Thomas is hands-down the best tackle in the game.
2. Ryan Clady, LT, Denver Broncos
Clady is dealing with an injury right now, but the 1/2 sack he yielded in his ‘08 rookie year is ridiculous.
3. Jake Long, LT, Miami Dolphins
Long might have extra incentive to protect for Michigan teammate Chad Henne.
4. David Stewart, RT, Tennessee Titans
The run of offensive tackles who football fans know may have just ended. Stewart allowed just one sack last season.
5. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LT, New York Jets
People say he is a finesse player, but we think Ferguson’s run-blocking has improved.
6. Michael Oher, LT/RT, Baltimore Ravens
Like Doug Free, Oher’s athleticism makes him a better fit on the left side of the line.
7. Jon Stinchcomb, RT, New Orleans Saints
Stinchy (can I call him “Stinchy?”) played 1048 snaps last season, yet allowed just three quarterback hits for a team that throws the ball all over the field.
8. Damien Woody, RT, New York Jets
Woody is one of the league’s best run blockers, but he also allowed ZERO quarterback hits in 2009.
9. Willie Colon, RT, Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben does get sacked a lot, but much of the time it is his own fault.
10. Jared Gaither, LT/RT, Baltimore Ravens
We can’t see why no team is willing to give up a second-rounder for Gaither. Yes, there are concerns about his work ethic, but his ‘09 play was outstanding.
11. Phil Loadholt, RT, Minnesota Vikings
If linemen had a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year, Loadhoalt would have been a candidate last season.
12. Ryan Harris, RT, Denver Broncos
Harris was injured for the majority of the 2009 season. He should bounce back this year.
13. Jordan Gross, LT, Carolina Panthers
Most people think Panthers right tackle Jeff Otah is the better lineman, but Gross is far superior in pass protection on the left side.
14. Sebastian Vollmer, LT/RT, New England Patriots
Vollmer is a swing tackle, but he allowed only one sack last season and was dominant in the run game.
15. Kareem McKenzie, RT, New York Giants
Teammate David Diehl was also a candidate, but McKenzie is a better run blocker.
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Waking up on Sunday, I almost believed that it had all been a dream.
So many years I have woken up after the draft with a feeling of disappointment, and then had to dig down deep to find some kind of optimism and positivity for the coming season.
But not this year.
This year, more than any year I can remember, I think the Raiders have drafted and traded their way to improving this football team enormously.
Yes, we drafted some athletes, but the Raiders’ draft was made up of quality players at need positions. This was also true of the trades we made.
Oakland finally faced up to several problems that have haunted them over the last few years, and dealt with them.
The awful run defense was addressed in the first and second rounds. I loved the Rolando McClain pick. In picking him, the Raiders overlooked some minor athletic limitations and went for a guy with real football intelligence, great instincts, and a player who was the physical and vocal leader of a BCS championship defense.
In the second round, another quality player from an excellent program who fits a need was selected, defensive lineman Lamarr Houston.
In the third round, a guy I really hoped we would take at this point was on the board. Every year it seems one player from a small school comes into the league and makes a splash like Sebastian Vollmer or Jared Allen. I put Jared Veldheer in that bracket.
He has great size (6’ 8”, 312 lbs.), great strength (32 reps on the bench), and was equally fast at the combine in the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. That short area quickness makes him a great fit for Oakland’s zone blocking scheme.
We picked the right time to take two physical standouts, Bruce Campbell and Jacoby Ford in the fourth round.
We got them as value picks having already addressed positions of need. With value again, with a good cover cornerback in the fifth round, Oakland pretty much completed their draft.
I even liked the later picks, and Travis Goethel looks like a useful backup and special teams gunner.
My only moan was that I would have liked to have seen another interior offensive lineman added to the rotation, and I thought we needed a fullback. I found out shortly afterwards that they had signed guard Alex Parsons (USC) and fullback Manase Tonga (BYU) as free agents.
That leaves me with nothing to moan about at all.
When you add the trade for a starting strongside linebacker in Kamerion Wimbley, and a possible starting quarterback in Jason Campbell, this has been a hell of an offseason.
No splashing out on flashy free agents, just quality players who are system fits.
What has been hugely satisfying for the fan base, in addition to a great draft, is that bringing in Jason Campbell shows a willingness by Oakland to accept that JaMarcus Russell probably is not the guy.
That is a big step forward for this team.
I see Tom Cable’s influence in this draft (as well as Al’s of course), and I genuinely think that as a team they work well together , instead of pulling in different directions like many previous coaches have with Mr. Davis.
That means for the Raider Nation, the future is brighter than it has been for many, many years.
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The New England Patriots have been remarkably quiet in an offseason that has featured numerous blockbuster trades and free agent signings.
It has been somewhat maddening, as a Patriots fan, hearing about the latest personnel moves throughout the NFL, and especially in the AFC East.
Take receiver, a position the Pats currently have a need in, for example.
The Jets have picked up former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes for (virtually) nothing in a fire sale spurred by the Steelers’ character jitters. They now have a weapon opposite Braylon Edwards, and have substantially improved their passing game.
The Dolphins traded two second-round picks for troubled receiver Brandon Marshall, which also looks like a bargain. The draft is inherently uncertain, and two second-rounders is a small price to pay for young, proven talent.
The Ravens, earlier this offseason, acquired Anquan Boldin for third- and fourth-round draft picks. Once again, character issues seem to have played a part.
See a pattern? Several of the league’s top receivers have gone for less than market price because of character concerns. Given that New England seems to have the magic touch when it comes to former bad boys (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon), shouldn’t they, at the very least, have been in the discussions for these players?
What have the Patriots done? They’ve re-signed cornerback Leigh Bodden, tackle Vince Wilfork, guard Stephen Neal, and running back Kevin Faulk. All are crucial players, but the moves, at best, return the team to status quo.
Status quo, you may remember, involved getting steamrolled by the Saints, collapsing against the Colts, and being humiliated by the Ravens at home in the playoffs.
(In fact, status quo might be optimistic. Remember that Wes Welker, the most reliable player on the offense last year, is recovering from a serious injury.)
Since the Patriots have as many needs as they do, this inaction means the brain trust is banking on one thing: a highly successful draft day on Thursday.
This would be more heartening if the team’s recent draft-day track record wasn’t so spotty. Certainly it looks like the team picked up some talent last year (Julian Edelman and Sebastian Vollmer were the standouts), but before that there have been some problems (especially with the ’07 draft).
So the Patriots must pick (or make late draft-day trades for) players to fit their needs. It is fortunate that this is generally regarded as a deep draft, but their margin for error is slim.
If a few picks don’t pan out immediately, this team could face a replay of last year, in which they listlessly played to a 10-6 record and a quick exit from the playoffs.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
